“Middlesbrough win is massive, but losing his is bigger because the injury doesn’t look good”- Daniel Farke shares how many games player could miss after injury vs Middlesbrough
Leeds United have climbed back to the top of the Championship table with a crucial victory over Middlesbrough, but there are concerns surrounding Dan James following the win.
Leeds entered the match in third place, having won just once in their previous six games and drawing three times consecutively. However, they managed to hold onto a vital 1-0 victory at Riverside, with Dan James scoring the only goal just three minutes into the game.
Although Leeds had two goals from Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford ruled out for offside, the score remained 1-0. This sparked reactions from Neil Warnock and Jermaine Beckford, but in the end, a win is a win. The timing was perfect, with Sheffield United suffering a second consecutive defeat—losing 2-0 at home to Millwall—while Burnley could only secure a point against in-form Derby.
A Massive Win, But a Blow with Dan James’ Injury
James was outstanding, scoring a 25-yard screamer against Luton and then netting the only goal in the Middlesbrough win. Stuart Dallas even described James as Leeds’ best player this season, with 12 goals to his name so far.
However, the victory came at a cost, as James was withdrawn in the 73rd minute after seeming to suffer an injury. In his post-match press conference, Daniel Farke confirmed James had a hamstring issue.
“He had a problem with his hamstring, so we took him off to avoid risking further damage. The turnaround for the next game might be too quick, and as it stands, it doesn’t look too good,” Farke told reporters.
A Crucial Win, But Losing Dan James Could Be Costly
It’s clear that James is one player Leeds cannot afford to lose during this crucial run-in. There’s no one else like him in the squad—his confidence is sky-high after scoring in two consecutive games.
While Leeds have alternatives like Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani waiting in the wings, the key to success in the final stretch is having players in form and full of confidence, and James certainly fits that description right now.
Leeds fans will get more clarity on Thursday when Farke addresses the media ahead of Saturday’s match against Preston North End. Hopefully, if James is injured, it will only be for one or two of the final five games.
